Printing press



Aug. 22, 1933. FANKBQNER 1,923,925

PRINTING PRESS Filed Jan. 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l l VENTOR Aug. 22,1933. H NK NER 1,923,925

I Filed Jan. 14, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 "Era Patented AW. 22, 1933iiairscsrarss new ser es I PRINTING raass Harland Fanlrbcner, Chicago,111., assignor to The Goss Printing Press Company, a Corporation ofIllinois Application January 14, 1931. Serial No. 508,651

6 Claims. (Cl.'10l378) attained by means of the instrumentalities andcombinations pointed out in the appended claims. The invention consistsin the novel parts, con structions, arrangements, combinations andimprovements herein shown and described.

The accompanying drawings, referredto'herein and constituting a parthereof, illustrate the preferred embodiments of the invention, andtogether with the description, serve to explain the principles of theinvention.

Of the drawings:- Figure 1 is a vertical cross section through a platecylinder, and plate embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a longitudinal fragmentary section taken on the line. 2-2 ofFigure 1; Figure 3 is a vertical cross section through a modifiedembodiment of the present invention;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary side elevation of the plate shown in Figure 3;r Figure 5 is a fragmentary, vertical section through a further modifiedembodiment of the present invention;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary section taken on the line 6-6 of Figure 5; and

Figure '7 is a section taken on the line '77 of Figure 6.

The present invention has for its object the provision of means forfacilitating and shortening the timerequired for plating of the platecylinders of a rotary printing couple, such as the plate cylinders of ahigh speed newspaper press.

A'further objectis the provision of means for preventing the platesdropping from the plate cyl inders while the plates are not locked orsecurely fastened to the plate cylinders by the plate clamps.

In accordance with the present invention, co-

operating interengaging members are provided.

It will be understood that the foregoing general description and thefollowing detailed description as well, are exemplary and explanatoryofthe invention but are not restrictive thereof.

Referring now in detail to the illustrative embodiment of the inventionas illustrated in Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, theplate cylinder 10 of the rotary printing couple is provided with theusual plate-driving stops '11 arranged along and in contact with thetrailing edge 12 of the stereotype plate 13.

In accordance with the present invention, and

' for holding the plate on the cylinder during platribs 16. If desired,and as shown, the two central ribs 16' on the back of the plate may beplaced slightly closer together than usual to form the end closures ofthe recess. 1

Cooperating with the recess in the back of the plate is provided aradially extending'pin 18 projecting from the surface of the cylinderand located substantially midway between the diametrically oppcsitedriving stops 11. Generally, a single centrally located plate-retainingpin 18 is sumcient for holding the plate on the cylinder during plating,but additional pins may be provided if desired.

After plating one side of the cylinder'in the position shown in Figure1, the plate. may be locked in position by means of the usual plateclamps. The cylinder is then rotated a halfrotation, bringing the otherdriving stop 11 and plate-retaining pin 18 into operative position, 5after which the operations are repeated.

Figures 3 and 4 of the drawings illustrate a modified embodiment of theinvention suitable for use in connection with printing presses in whichthe driving stops 11 are vertically alined with the axis 19 of thecylinder during plating. In this position, the retaining pin 18 isplacecloser to its corresponding driving stop than in the previousembodiment, but .is positioned substantially above the cylinder axis.

The stereotype plates for use in connection with this embodiment areformed with a shallow, longitudinally extending recess I l in the backor concave side of the plate, between adjacent ribs 16 thereof and in aposition to accurately register with the pin 18 on the cylinder 10.Preferably, theupper side or shoulder 15 of the recess is formedsubstantially perpendicular to a line drawn from one edge 12 of theplate to the other edge, while the lower edge of the recess is radial.

While the recesses in the back of the plate may be formed in any desiredmanner, they are preferably formed during the casting of the plate inthe casting box, as by attaching a correspondingly shaped metal block tothe core of the casting box. With plates of the type shown in Figure 3,the upper edge or shoulder 15' of the recess is made perpendicular, asdescribed, so that the plate may draw from the casting box.

Preferably, and as shown in the foregoing embodiments, the recess isslightly wider and considerably longer than the diameter of theretaining pins on the cylinder, thereby facilitating the positioning ofthe plates on the cylinder and at the same time permitting axialmovement of the plates by the plate clamps as the plates are locked inrunning position.

Figures 5, 6 and '7 illustrate another modification of the invention inwhich the plate retaining pin is resiliently seated in the cylinder andthe ribs of the plate are interrupted to provide shoulders to beengaged'by the pin. As embodied, the cylinder 10 is provided with 2.cylindrical socket 21 which opens outwardly into alongitudinallyextending, narrow and relatively shallow slot 22. The plate-retainingpin in this modification comprises a cylindrical plunger 23 providedwith a narrow, flat, longitudinally extending head 24 of substantiallythe same depth asthe narrow slot 22, so that the pin may be pushed untilit; is flush with the surface of the cylinder. For resiliently pressingthe pin outwardly and into plate retaining position, a spring 25 isprovided in the socket 21 and engages the inner end of the plunger 23.

Means are also provided for limiting outward movement of the retainingpin, while permitting easy replacement. For this purpose a fillisterhead screw 26 is provided, and is set in an offset recess 2'? so that aportion of its head overlies the outer cylindrical portion of theplunger 23.

In the plates used with these retaining pins, the circumferentiallyextending ribs 16 on the backs of the plates are interrupted, as at 29,for a short distance to provide sharp shoulders 28 to be engaged by theflat head 24 of the retaining pin.

This modification, while not as simple as the other modificationsdescribed, has the advantage that the plates may be slid into position.The pin is retracted and lies flush with the surface of the cylinderuntil the plate is properly positioned, and is then resilientlyprojected to engage the shoulders 28.

The invention in its broader aspects is not limited to the specificmechanisms shown and described but departures may .be made therefromwithin the scope of the accompanying claims without departing from theprinciples of the invention and without sacrificing its chiefadvantages.

What I claim is: p

1. A curved printing plate having a concave rear face provided withcircumferentially extending ribs, certain of said ribs being interruptedintermediate their ends to provide a sharp shoulder.

2. In a plate cylinder, means for temporarily securing a curved printingplate to the cylinder during plating comprising a retractible pinnormally projecting from the surface of the cylinder.

-3. In a plate cylinder, means for temporarily securing a curvedprinting plate to the cylinder while the plate is not locked on thecylinder comprising a pin resiliently urged outwardly of the cylinderand projecting beyondthe surface thereof, said pin being provided with afiat head extending axially of the cylinder.

l. Ina plate cylinder, means for temporarily holding a curved printingplate on the cylinder while the plate is not locked by the plate clamps,comprising a radially extending pin, resiliently urged outwardly of thecylinder and projecting beyond the surface thereof, and meansfor 1iitingthe outward movement of the pin-said pin being provided with a flat headextending axially of the cylinder.

5. In a plate cylinder having driving means for the plates, means fortemporarily holding a curved printing plate on the cylinder while theplate is not locked by the plate clamps on the cylinder with the drivingmeans above and below the axis of the cylinder, said holding meanscomprising a radially extending pin located abovethe axis of thecylinder and normally projecting beyond the surface of the cylinder,said pin being provided with a fiat head extending axially of thecylinder and means for resiliently urging said pin outwardly.

6. In a printing press the combination of a curved printing plate,- a'plate cylinder for supporting said plate, plate driving means to bepositioned in substantial vertical alinement with the cylinder axisduring plating, and a cooperating projection and shoulder, one on theplate, the other on the cylinder and positioned above the cylinder axisduring-plating.

HARLAND FANKBONER.

